How to Make Kleenex Box Covers

No matter what time of year it is, either some bug is going around, or if it isn't a cold or flu that gets you, it's allergy season. With all of the tissue use in an average household, making a tissue box cover to fit in with your decor might bring a little levity to an otherwise stuffy (no pun intended) situation.

This felt-covered tissue box is made to look like a first aid kit. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Cut & Attach the Wall Panels

With the fabric scissors, cut one piece from the red felt that measures 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches and four pieces that measure 5 by 5 1/2 inches. Match up two of the 5-by-5 1/2-inch felt pieces so the long sides are together. With your sewing machine (loaded up with matching thread), sew along one of the 5 1/2-inch sides to attach the panels together. Use a medium tension and small zig zag stitch, and leave a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Sew the first two panels together. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Attach the Remaining Wall Panels

After your first two panels are stitched together along one 5 1/2-inch edge, grab a third 5-by-5 1/2-inch panel and sew one of its 5 1/2-inch edges to one of the 5 1/2-inch edges on the pair of attached panels. Repeat with the fourth 5-by-5 1/2-inch panel. You should end up with an open-ended box.

Sew four panels together to make an open-ended box. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Finish the Seams

Before you stitch the first and fourth walls together to close the sides of the box, fold each of the three seams inside out and stitch them down with your sewing machine using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. This will give the box more structural integrity. Wool felt is naturally more sturdy than fabric, but giving the seams reinforcement will go one step further.

Fold each seam inside out and stitch it down. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Close the Sides

Flatten the box so that the first and fourth walls are stacked long sides together. Sew them together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance to close the box walls.

Measure the Lid Opening

Use a ruler to find the center of the square on the remaining red felt panel (5 1/2-by-5 1/2-inch piece). This panel will be the lid of the tissue box cover. Mark a line with the tailor's chalk in the center that measures 3 1/2 inches long.

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Cut the Lid Opening

Fold the felt panel in half and use your scissors to cut a straight line along the chalk.

Fold and snip the lid to create a slit for the tissues. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Attach the Lid to the Box Cover

Place the felt tissue box lid on top of the felt box cover with the chalk side facing the inside of the box. Hold one side of the felt lid together with the top of one of the felt box walls. Sew them together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Sew one of the walls to the lid. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Continue Attaching the Box Lid

Sew the tops of the remaining three walls to the tissue box lid with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You should end up with a tissue box cover that looks like the one pictured.

Sew the remaining three walls to the lid. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Measure & Draw a White Cross

Use the ruler to measure a 3-by-3-inch cross on the white felt, and draw the outline of the cross with tailor's chalk.

Measure and draw a cross. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Cut out the Cross

Use the fabric scissors to carefully cut out the shape of the cross. If you are going to use two crosses in your design (one for the front and one for the back), use the first cross as your pattern to create a matching cross.

Cut out two crosses if you want one for the front and the back. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Stitch the Cross to the Box Cover

Thread your sewing needle with white thread and use the stitch of your choice to attach the white cross to your red felt box.

Stitch the cross to the box. (Image: Megan O Andersen)

Slide the Cover Onto a Tissue Box

Slide the finished box cover onto a square tissue box and pull a tissue through the slit in the lid. Note that this tissue box cover was designed to look like a first-aid kit, but you can customize the design with buttons, ribbons, rickrack or other decorative items.